Friday, September 11, 2009

Modal Mojo Info:

Just wanted to clarify for everyone the details about the Modal Mojo books and play-along tracks. There are two Modal Mojo products.
One is called “Modal Mojo Play-along Tracks” and consists of a free 10 page PDF booklet which describes the 28 tracks.
http://www.donmockguitar.com/pdf/10pg_book.pdf
The audio tracks themselves are available on-line at locations such as I-Tune and Amazon MP3. The 28 tracks are divided into three groups, major, minor and dominant modal grooves. You can purchase each group, like you would an entire album, or you can just buy single tracks.
http://www.amazon.com/Modal-Dominant-Play-along-Grooves-Fusion/dp/B001MYJIZ6/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1252721801&sr=301-1

“Don Mock’s Modal Mojo” is a full-size 84 page book and audio lesson for guitarists distributed by Alfred Publishing. The book basically takes you through each of the 28 play-along modal grooves detailing ways to improvise over the particular groove and includes etude/demo solos for each modal type. I also spent a good deal of time on modal rhythm playing. The book comes with the same 28 modal grooves but also includes over 4 ½ hours of audio instruction. The audio comes on two disks as high-end MP3 files, one of the first instructional books by Alfred to use this format. The tracks sound great and let me just say…… I did a LOT of talking and playing on the audio CD. So if you don’t mind a few long-winded explanations and demonstrations about everything modes, I think you’ll find this to be one of the best books on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/Don-Mocks-Modal-Mojo-Mock/dp/0739057588/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252721682&sr=1-4

“Jazz Rhythm Chops” DVD Booklet PDF

For those of you who purchased my video “Jazz Rhythm Chops,” I’ve posted an improved PDF booklet of the examples in music notation and tablature. Just click on link below to download.

http://www.donmockguitar.com/pdf/JazzGuitarRhythmChops.pdf

The original tab sheets, that were included with the DVD and original VHS tape, are not very good and I would prefer that you have the new version. When we produced the video, I sent Warner Bros. my original charts, but there was not enough space for all the material to fit in the small booklet that’s placed inside the video packaging. So they decided to make a reduced tab-only version. I was very disappointed when I saw the small sheets they printed. I expected them to at least add the rhythms to the tab notation but they didn’t. We planned to add the complete booklet as a PDF on the DVD when the time came to re-duplicate new copies, but were not able to connect in time with the folks at Alfred (who had taken over the product line from Warner a few years ago). Fortunately, thanks to the internet, I’m now able to get you the booklet.
-Don Mock

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

"An Evening with Joe Pass" by Don Mock


During the first half of the '90's, my partner Roger E. Hutchinson (REH) and I directed and produced dozens of instructional videos featuring some of the greatest guitar and bass players in the world. All of these shows which were produced under the Warner Bros. banner which is now Alfred. We're very proud of the accomplishments and treasure the friendships that came out of the unique experience. In many cases, the videos were shot in Seattle, Washington where Roger and I both live. We had some great times flying in the artists, picking them up at the airport, hanging out with them, eating dinner and even having a few stay at our homes. We also shot several in Los Angeles, where I commuted at the time to Musicians Institute where I taught. Many of the artists were reluctant performing in an instructional video not having a lot of teaching experience. It was my job to help them prepare and take them through the process. Besides being the director, I found myself doing all kinds of things from mixing the audio, running a camera or playing some rhythm guitar.

Shoot days were often very long, but we were always able to capture more than enough information and demonstrations to put together good programs. As you can imagine, we have a lot of great stories to tell. We had lots of fun, as the shoots were filled with great playing, screw-ups, re-takes and some fabulous spontaneous performances. Some day we just have to put out an "out take/bloopers" video of some of the hilarious episodes!


The video I want to tell you about is one of my favorite and proudest productions. I was lucky to have been friends with Joe Pass spending time with him at MI when he dropped by to do some clinics or a concert. He was a wonderful and down to earth person and it was easy for me to forget, when having some dinner and wine with him at a restaurant, that he was simply one of the greatest jazz guitar players who ever lived. In the early 1990's we brought Joe to Seattle to film his first REH video "Jazz Lines." When we first approached Joe about doing a video, we wanted to talk him into playing over some single static chords, II-V-I and turnaround progressions. Knowing Joe, we expected him to swear at us in Italian, refuse, and tell us that students should only learn tunes, not scales or licks. But to our surprise, Joe thought it was a great idea. "Jazz Lines" turned out to be an absolute goldmine of classic "Joe" as he played brilliantly over simple static chords through altered turnarounds. This still continues to be one of my most recommended jazz guitar videos.


A few years later Joe agreed to shoot a 2nd video that would be more of a "live" concert and clinic called "An Evening with Joe Pass." The plan was to shoot the show at Musicians Institute in LA in front of a packed house. I thought it would also be cool to film Joe's entire visit to the school so our camera man and I met Joe in the parking lot when he arrived and just kept rolling as he came in the building and got ready to play. He didn't even bring an amp and told me to just take the guitar direct into the PA. We actually got a pretty good recorded sound on his guitar which sounded amazing live in the audience.


Joe was showing signs of his illness during the shooting of but you would never know it by the way he performed. If you never had the chance to see Joe live, this video is probably the next best thing. You'll see him rehearse with the trio and talk with me about his influences among other things. Joe was full of life as he joked around with us, and talked with some of the other teachers and students. He played great during the concert and kept everyone mesmerized during the clinic portion. The very end of the video is very special to me as I walked Joe to his car. As he lit up his famous cigar, he simply said "I'll see you guys," and drove off. I never saw him again. -Don Mock

Here's more info about the video:

"An Evening with Joe Pass" is a very special 90 minute instructional and performance video by this legendary jazz guitarist. REH's camera crew spent the day with Joe as he visited Musicians Institute for a concert and clinic.
Joe Pass on stage at Musicians Institute with Joe Porcaro and Bob Magnusson during the filming of "An Evening with Joe Pass." You'll sit in on the sound check and watch Joe run through some standards in the pre-concert rehearsal with bassist Bob Magnusson and drummer Joe Porcaro. Later, host and fellow guitarist Don Mock talks with Joe about his incredible 50 year career. At concert time, Joe walks on stage to an enthusiastic and packed house. The trio performs many jazz classics including "Satin Doll," "All the Things You Are," and "You Don't Know What Love Is." Joe also plays his solo arrangements of "Stella by Starlight" and his own "Solo Piece." In the clinic portion of the evening Joe discusses and demonstrates his renown style. Answering questions from the audience, Joe talks about chord-melody and "playing what you hear." The booklet includes transcriptions form the concert and examples in music notation and tablature. Don't miss the chance to spend an evening and get to know this jazz guitar giant and very special man. In his incredible 50 year career, Joe Pass was one of the most influential and respected jazz guitarist in the world. He was known equally for his incredible single line improvising as well as brilliant chordal playing. The Grammy winning guitarist recorded numerous solo albums and performed with many legendary artists including Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and Count Basie. REH and Warner Bros. are very proud to have had the opportunity to produce two inspiring and informative videos documenting for all time Joe's approach to the instrument he loved.